Alexander Hamilton on President Donald Trump: "The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion... .

"When a man unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents ... despotic in his ordinary demeanor -- known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty -- when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity, to join in the cry of danger to liberty, to take every opportunity of embarrassing the general government and bringing it under suspicion, to flatter and fall in with all the nonsense of the zealots of the day, it may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may ride the storm and direct the whirlwind."

What brilliance in predicting the risks Trump now poses.

Jerold Lancourt, Dallas

Presidential rights

Donald Trump was elected president by a majority of electoral votes. As the president of the United States, he is due all of the respect and honor that his predecessor, President Barack Obama, received, such as: denying his qualifications for the office, constant criticism of every action and proposal, total obstruction by the Congress of his programs and a vow to make him a one-term president.

Tom Naylor, North Dallas

Farmers market spoiled

I recently took my wife and son to the Dallas Farmers Market. We were hoping to stock up on fresh vegetables and fruits as we had in past years, before the "improvements."

What a disappointment! There were only a handful of fruit and vegetable vendors. Yes, there were stalls selling pickles and honey, and boutiques with flowers and cosmetics, but precious few "farmers." We used to fill up the trunk of our car or a four-wheel cart just a few years ago, but no more.

We saw lots of yuppies walking their kids and their dogs, but very few bought bags of produce. No more tasting tomatoes, watermelons and peaches. The health police put a stop to that.

Prices were high, probably due to the lack of competition. This is a great example of fixing something that wasn't broken. Over the summer, we will try some of the suburban farmers markets. In the meantime, we'll stick with the supermarket. Like the circus, the Dallas Farmers Market is history.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins was acting more like a Republican when he asked for cuts in property taxes. Usually the Democrats want more money to have more control of the government. However, it has been proven that Jenkins is not bound by any philosophy other than what is best for the citizens he represents. The fact that John Wiley Price opposed him only further points out what is best for Dallas County.

Rosemary Thornton, University Park

Tea party's al-Qaeda tactics

I seem to remember that following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., al-Qaeda issued statements that its objectives included sowing fear, disrupting the functions of the U.S. government, forcing the country to devote huge financial resources with the ultimate goal of bankruptcy, fomenting social division and establishing a theocracy. This strategy had already worked on the Soviet Union, which chased the then America-backed forces all over Afghanistan until they went broke and then left.

Actions lead me to believe that goals of the Freedom Caucus (tea party) are to sow fear, disrupt the U. S. government, bankrupt the government, foment social division and establish a theocracy.

What am I missing here?

Craig Marckwardt, Southwest Dallas

Texas Legislature rules

My grandfather that I was named after was the blacksmith in Gainesville, Texas, at the turn of the century (1900) and often had sage advice. This month's action in Austin reminded me of one of his sagest, "The Texas Legislature is in session. Put your hand on your wallet and your tongue on your gold tooth."